ABSTRACT

This is the third edition of Character Development and Storytelling for Games, a standard work in the field that brings all of the teaching from the first two books up to date and tackles the new challenges of today. Professional game writer and designer Lee Sheldon combines his experience and expertise in this updated edition. New examples, new game types, and new challenges throughout the text highlight the fundamentals of character writing and storytelling.

But this book is not just a box of techniques for writers of video games. It is an exploration of the roots of character development and storytelling that readers can trace from Homer to Chaucer to Cervantes to Dickens and even Mozart. Many contemporary writers also contribute insights from books, plays, television, films, and, yes, games.

Sheldon and his contributors emphasize the importance of creative instinct and listening to the inner voice that guides successful game writers and designers. Join him on his quest to instruct, inform, and maybe even inspire your next great game.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

part I|28 pages

Background

chapter Chapter 1|7 pages

Equations

chapter Chapter 2|18 pages

The Story Remains the Same

part II|98 pages

Creating Characters

chapter Chapter 3|22 pages

Respecting Characters

chapter Chapter 4|22 pages

Character Roles

chapter Chapter 5|21 pages

Character Traits

chapter Chapter 6|30 pages

Character Encounters

part III|160 pages

Telling the Story

chapter Chapter 7|23 pages

Once Upon a Time

chapter Chapter 8|18 pages

Respecting Story

chapter Chapter 9|18 pages

Bringing the Story to Life

chapter Chapter 10|18 pages

Games

Charting New Territory

chapter Chapter 11|12 pages

Story Anatomy

chapter Chapter 12|20 pages

Editing

chapter Chapter 13|21 pages

The Roots of a New Storytelling

chapter Chapter 14|26 pages

Modular Storytelling

part IV|91 pages

Games People Play Today

chapter Chapter 15|16 pages

Game Types

chapter Chapter 16|25 pages

Game Genres

chapter Chapter 17|22 pages

Storytelling in Virtual Worlds

chapter Chapter 18|16 pages

Storytelling in Small Games

chapter Chapter 19|9 pages

Storytelling in Applied Games

part V|6 pages

Reflections

chapter Chapter 20|4 pages

Postlude: Endgame